Is Lasik for everyone?

Despite the media hype, Lasik is not for everyone. The procedure is best for individuals who:

-      are between the ages of 18-35

-      have no other eye disorder

-      have no other major medical disorder

-      are realistic

-      have a stable eye disorder

Who should not undergo Lasik procedure?

Lasik is not recommended if one has additional eye problems such as untreated cataracts or glaucoma (high pressure inside the eye). Once the ophthalmologist has assessed your eye, he/she can determine if you are a candidate for the procedure. Lasik is a great treatment for an individual who has mild to moderate farsightness/shortsightness. It does not work well if someone has severe disorder of either disorder.

Who can have LASIK?

There are some criteria for individuals requiring LASIK. These include:

• Minimum age 18
• No major medical disorder that may affect outcome
• No other eye problem
• Stable eye prescription/refraction
• Realistic expectations
• Must undergo an eye exam and measurement of cornea before surgery

Can LASIK treat astigmatism?

Astigmatism occurs when the eye shape is oval rather than round. Lasers can treat most levels of astigmatism. The laser does this by removing some corneal tissue and making the eye more round. One other use of Lasik has been the treatment of astigmatism (oval instead of round eye). The laser simply cuts out some corneal tissue and makes it more round.

Can LASIK correct farsightedness?

In the low to moderate ranges, LASIK is a good treatment for farsightedness. For high or extreme levels of farsightedness, LASIK is generally not a good treatment. Other optic refractive procedures may be required to give better level of correction.

How do I know if I am a candidate for LASIK?

Before the procedure, one undergoes a complete eye exam to determine if one has nearsighted, farsighted and/or has astigmatism. There must be no additional eyes problems such as untreated cataracts or glaucoma. The exam will provide a detailed analysis of the shape of cornea, pupil and the optics of your eye. It is only then that one can be determine if LASIK is the recommended procedure.